STEP 12—HOW TO WISELY CHOOSE KITCHEN EQUIPMENT AND TABLEWARE
Make decisions for purchases based on your lifestyle. Refer to your Worksheet 1 “Cook’s Profile” and your worksheets completed for Step 8. Choose sizes and features that meet your needs (space, family size, frequency of use, durability, amount of care, and your pocketbook). Many high-priced items are not necessarily the best. Try to choose items that have multiple uses. Likewise, buying a whole “set” of pots and pans is not always the best buy. You may have more need for a heavy cast-iron skillet vs. the light weight aluminum pan that comes with the set and is never used. Browse in kitchen departments and appliance stores in your locality, and even online, to see the new items on the market. To help you with making informed decisions, check the descriptions and ratings in “Consumer Reports” (www.consumerreports.org). They have an extensive library of books, besides their monthly magazine reports, which investigate everything from gadgets to large appliances, even countertops and flooring. They give you information (advantages and disadvantages) on the latest items and costs available.
Beware of trends and promotions. Colors and patterns, especially, can become outdated in a few years —(examples—olive green and gold appliances). The craze for stainless steel appliances, now, is the psycho-logical pressure to make your kitchen “look” like a commercial restaurant – with you being equated to a seasoned chef. Sometimes the size, features, and cost of these appliances are more than you need.
When choosing dinnerware, select patterns and colors that will enhance the food to be served. Embellishments should not interfere with the food to be placed on the plate (i.e. a large flower or design in the middle of the plate will distract from the food). A beautiful border around the edge in a neutral/compatible color can enhance the food display. If you choose colored dinnerware, choose a color that will “always” be a pleasing background for every food you place on top of it. I prefer plain white dinnerware so the food takes “center stage” no matter what I serve. You can always use colorful placemats or tablecloth with colors and patterns to add excitement to the meal. The linens, rather than the dinnerware, can be inexpensively changed “often” to create different atmospheres. To avoid spending extra time when you set the table, do not choose odd-shaped dinner-plates (square, oval, etc.) You will be spending extra time to “set each plate in the same position” lest the whole setting looks chaotic.
Go to Worksheet 12 to start a shopping list for the items you want to purchase even though you may not be making the purchases immediately. By looking in advance and checking several sources, you will be able to comparison shop and save money by finding the best prices. Also, you can use the information in Step 16 when you set up your Budget and Priority Schedule for improving your kitchen.
Go to Step 13 to find out the importance of lighting and electrical outlets in your kitchen.
Check out Lifestyle Systems complete line of drawer and shelf organizers for the home and office at www.lifestylessystems.com. If you want to be an active participant to change/plan your kitchen download the corresponding worksheet for the workshop by clicking on the worksheet below:
Worksheet 1 – Cooks Profile
Worksheet 2 – Draw Your Kitchen
Worksheet 3 – My Work Triangle
Worksheet 4 – Location Of My Work Centers
Worksheet 5 – Measure My Counterspace
Worksheet 6 – Measure Heights of Work Surfaces
Worksheet 7 – Part 1 – Kitchen Storage Test
Worksheet 7 – Part 2 – Measure Your Kitchen Storage
Worksheet 8 – Part 1 – Kitchen Equipment Checklist
Worksheet 8 – Part 2 – Kitchen Equipment Checklist
Worksheet 8 – Part 3 – Tableware Storage Checklist
Worksheet 8 – Part 4 – Tableware Checklist Continued
Worksheet 8 – Part 5 – Supplies and Food Items Checklist
Worksheet 9 – Measure Points You Can Easily Reach In Your Kitchen
Worksheet 10 – How To Place Items In A Work Center
Worksheet 11 – Part 1 – Suggestions For Maximizing Storage Space In My Kitchen
Worksheet 11 – Part 2 – Suggestions For Maximizing Storage Space
Worksheet 11 – Part 3 – Suggestions For Maximizing Storage Space In My Kitchen
Worksheet 11 – Part 4 – Suggestions For Maximizing Storage Space In My Kitchen
Worksheet 12 – A Shopping List For Kitchen Equipment And Tableware
Worksheet 13 – Survey The Lighting And Electrical Outlets In My Kitchen
Worksheet 14 – Decorating Your Kitchen
Worksheet 15 – Gather Samples For My Kitchen
Worksheet 16 – Part 1 – Sources And Appointments
Worksheet 16 – Page 2 – Budget and Priority Schedule For My Kitchen
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